Man drowns in Euclid in Lake Erie

At 4:51 p.m., the Euclid Fire Department received a call about two distressed swimmers in the lake who were struggling to get back to shore off of the pier at Sims Park, 23131 Lake Shore Blvd., according to a news release from the department.

In a separate release, Euclid Police Department said that 19-year-old Ryan Meyers and 30-year-old Christopher J. Hall, both of Euclid, were fishing from the pier and decided to go swimming.

They jumped from the north end of the pier, but Hall had trouble swimming after a few minutes. Meyers tried to rescue Hall, but soon became fatigued. Other park visitors helped Meyers get to shore before safety crews arrived, police said.

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U.S. Coast Guard boats from Cleveland and Fairport Harbor began searching the water and 90 minutes later located Hall’s body about 75 feet from the pier. His body was recovered by divers from the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team about 100 feet off shore “entangled in rocks,” the fire department stated.

Hall was fully clothed and not wearing a life preserver. Wave heights were 2 feet or less, according to the Fire Department.

He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.

Swimming is not permitted at Sims Park and “no swimming” signs are posted around the park, police said.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office also assisted during the incident.

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